Movies

Natascha Abigail Taylor (born 14 December 1969), known professionally as Natascha McElhone (/ˈmækəlhoʊn/), is a British actress. She is a graduate of the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. In film, she is best known for her roles in Ronin (1998), The Truman Show (1998), and Solaris (2002).

On television, she has portrayed Karen van der Beek, the long-time partner of Hank Moody, in the Showtime comedy-drama series Californication (2007–2014), First Lady of the United States Alex Kirkman in the ABC political drama Designated Survivor (2016–2017), and Laz Ingram in Beau Willimon's Hulu science-fiction series The First (2018). McElhone also portrayed Penelope Knatchbull in season 5 of The Crown.

Early life
She was born Natascha Abigail Taylor in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey on 14 December 1969 to Noreen McElhone and Michael Taylor, both journalists. She took her mother's maiden name as her stage name. McElhone has a brother, Damon, who lives in Los Angeles and is a scriptwriter; and two half-brothers: Alexander, who lives in Zürich, and Nicholas, who lives in Stockholm. Her parents separated when she was two. Her Irish mother moved the family to Brighton and later married journalist and columnist Roy Greenslade.

McElhone was educated at St Mark's CofE Primary School, Brighton; St Mary's Hall, Brighton; Fortismere School, London; Camden School for Girls, London; and William Ellis, London. She took lessons in Irish dancing from ages six to 12. She graduated from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 1993.